Ohio News Briefs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is in Ohio campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Richard Cordray.

Holder is visiting as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. The committee backed by former President Barack Obama is investing millions of dollars in state-level elections in 11 states. Its heaviest focus is on Ohio.

Holder’s visit includes public appearances Thursday in Columbus and Friday in Cincinnati.

He’ll also attend fundraisers for Cordray, the former federal consumer watchdog under Obama, and others on the Democratic statewide ticket.

Holder’s organization sees this year’s election cycle as critical to the congressional redistricting process. Winners will help draw congressional maps for the decade starting in 2021.

The Republican National Committee raises issues with Holder’s past and says Ohioans should be wary of Cordray campaigning with him.

Police: Woman chokes man with phone cord; man dies

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police say a woman choked a man with a phone cord in Ohio and the man has died from his injuries.

Columbus police say 35-year-old Marshall Williams died Wednesday at a hospital where he had been on life support after he was choked over the weekend.

Police say a 37-year-old woman has been charged with felonious assault. They say other charges are expected in the wake of Williams’ death.

Police say they were called to a motel room around 4:30 a.m. Sunday and found the man with a phone cord wrapped around his neck. A police report says the woman told police she choked him.

Police say the two had been in a relationship. Investigators are trying to determine a motive.

Injured trucker won’t face trial in Ohio crash that killed 3

EATON, Ohio (AP) — An Indiana truck driver charged in a crash that killed a southwestern Ohio couple and their 3-year-old daughter has been found by doctors to be incompetent to stand trial because of brain damage after being seriously hurt in the collision.

The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reports a Preble County judge said Wednesday he had no choice but to dismiss charges against the driver from Centerville, Indiana.

The September crash occurred about 10 miles from there, in the Ohio village of Camden. Authorities say the tractor-trailer ran a red light and struck a car, killing Camden residents Melissa and Schon Hudson and their daughter, Emerie.

The couple had two older children who weren’t in the car.

Authorities said the truck also hit two other cars. Those drivers were treated at the scene.